Digital Security

NAID to Study Solid State Drive Sanitization
On Sept. 2, 2013, the National Association for Information Destruction (NAID), Phoenix, began accepting applications from service providers and software developers who wanted to be considered for the applied research study on the efficacy of solid state drive (SSD) sanitization solutions. Applications were accepted through Sept. 30. As of press time, the NAID SSD Research Task Force was in the process of selecting six applicants to participate in the study.

“The task force has put together a structured methodology for the project,” task force co-chair Angie Singer Keating of Reclamere Inc., Tyrone, Pa., says. “It is designed to test the real-world application of SSD sanitization techniques while rigorously sticking to established research protocols as well as protecting the interests of the participants. The intent of the research is not to validate or approve any proprietary sanitization product or process. The task force will never see the results from any individual participant. Only the participants themselves will see how they stacked up against the aggregated study results.”

As mobile and tablet devices rapidly take over the market, the task force says it wants to ensure secure and proven methods of SSD sanitization are available.

NAID commissioned Dr. Steven Swanson to conduct the research. Swanson has been published among the most referenced studies on SSD sanitization and is considered an expert in the industry, NAID says. The organization says it intends to use the findings to refine its position on SSD sanitization as well as to provide guidance to the NAID Certification Rules Committee, NAID staff and consumers. NAID says it will publish the study’s aggregated findings, giving practical and regulatory context to results.

The SSD Research Participant Application as well as a detailed summary of the research methodology and timeline were emailed to all active and associate members of NAID the week of Sept. 1, 2013.

NAID is the nonprofit trade association of the secure destruction industry, which currently represents more than 1,900 member locations globally. NAID’s mission is to promote the proper destruction of discarded information through education and to encourage the outsourcing of destruction needs to qualified contractors, including those that are NAID certified.

Ingram Micro Acquires CloudBlue
Ingram Micro, a Santa Ana, Calif.-based technology firm, has acquired CloudBlue Technologies Inc., an electronics recycling firm based in Norcross, Ga. CloudBlue, founded in 2008, serves more than 1,000 customers.

Ingram Micro says CloudBlue will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary. Ken Beyer, former CEO and co-founder of CloudBlue, has been named vice president of Ingram Micro and president of CloudBlue. He will report directly to Robert Gifford, Ingram Micro executive vice president, global logistics.

“Today, data security and environmental responsibility are at the forefront of corporate priorities,” says Alain Monié, president and CEO of Ingram Micro. “The addition of CloudBlue to Ingram Micro allows us to meaningfully expand our supply chain solutions portfolio with a full suite of in-demand services that reduce the risk, cost and complexity associated with securely managing IT assets and consumer electronics throughout their lifecycle in compliance with environmental and data security regulations.”

Monié continues, “CloudBlue services a rapidly growing, higher-value market, which we expect will help accelerate the expansion of our supply chain solutions businesses across the globe.

“In addition to cross-sell opportunities into Ingram Micro’s OEM partners and existing base of more than 200,000 customers, we expect to benefit from new revenue opportunities within CloudBlue’s existing blue chip customer base, given our global reach,” Monié continues. “This is an excellent complement to our supply chain services business, and we welcome CloudBlue’s associates, partners and customers to the Ingram Micro family.”

Beyer says, “We are excited to join Ingram Micro and believe this combination will benefit CloudBlue employees, customers and partners alike.

“Ingram Micro recognizes the importance of cultivating a welcoming and dynamic workplace, and their culture and vision for the tremendous opportunity to provide a full suite of supply chain services worldwide is well-aligned with CloudBlue’s,” he adds. “We believe we can leverage Ingram Micro’s global footprint and strong reputation to significantly accelerate our growth, and we look forward to contributing to their strategic goal of expanding the company’s portfolio of higher-margin, value-added business services.”